Indicator-needle drive.



W. F. KENDALL.

lNDiCATOR NEEDLE DRIVE.

APPLICATlON FILED 050.19. 1913.

1,178,160. I Patented Apr. 4,1916.

WILLIAM FLOYD KENDALL, 0F TENAFLY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB, TO SEARS-CROSS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INDICATOR-NEEDLE DRIVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Application filed December 19, 1913. Serial No. 807,628.

To (ZZZ whom it 11? 07 concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM FLOYD KEN- DALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tenafiy, county of Bergen, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicator-Needle Drives, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

This invention relates to indicating instruments but maybe used in connection with different kinds of instruments; it is illustrated in the accompanying specification as applied to a speedometer.

One of the objects of the inventionis to provide means for transmitting the movement to the needle which will tend to prevent vibration of the needle and render the needle steady and regular in its movements.

A further object of the invention isto simplify the means for driving aneedle from a moving part.

. The invention consists in the general combination of parts and simplicity of details hereinafter described, all of which contribute to produce an eflicient indicating instrument.

A preferred embodiment of my invention will be particularly described in the following specification whilethe broadscope of my invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. V

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective showing parts of the mechanism of an indicator to which my invention is'applied;

certain parts are broken away and shown in cross-section; Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing a connection to the moving part, the movements of which are to be indicated;

. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan showing an arm which assists in transmitting the movement to the needle; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the arm shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an elevation and partial section looking from the interior of the instrument toward the face and particularly illustrating the means for mounting the needle and the parts immediately associated -withthe needle for driving it; and Fig. 6 is a detailof the construction illustrated. V y

In the following specification I have described the invention as applied to a speed indicator and have selected for illustrationa centrifugal speed indicator of a wellknown. type. This indicator comprises a frame 1 to which is attached a dial 2 having scale 3 with which cooperates an indicating needle or pointer 4. said needle being provided with a rigid pinion 5 within the instrument. The centrifugal mechanism 6 lncludes a shaft 7 which is connected with the part, the speed of which is to be taken. lVhere these instruments are used on automobiles the calibration of the scale 3 is such as to read in miles per hour. The shaft 7 in this particular instrument is arranged in a vertical position and provided with a fixed collar 8 to which a bifurcated cross-head 9 isattached pivotally at 10. There is also pivotally attached on the shaft 7 adisk or wheel 11, the pivotal connection with the shaftbeing above the collar 8, and a roller 12- is preferably employed which rests against the underside of the disk. When the shaft 7 rotates at a high speed, the disk 11 tends to move away from the inclined po sition in which it is illustrated in Fig. 1 and tends to move into a plane at right angles to the shaft 7. In doing so it presses on the roller 12 and moves thecross-head 9 so that a link 13 connected with the end of the cross-head opposite the roller will move a speed-controlled moving part such as a collar 14 which is mounted on the shaft. This collar is normally held in its extreme low position by means of a spring 15 around the shaft. The link is connected with the collar by a wire ring 13 From this arrangement it will be seen that when the speed of the vehicle to which the instrument is attached varies the collar 14 will move to and fro. My invention concerns itself particularly with the mechanism fortransmitting the movement of this part 14 or a similar part of any indicating instrument which moves to and fro in operation. As these instruments are constructed, a yoke. is provided having pins which engage in the groove of the collar and rest upon the faces of the flanges of the collar. It was found in practice that it was practically impossible to have the shaft run true enough in its bearings and also to have the faces of the flanges so true as to prevent a vibration being imparted to the yoke and imparted from the yoke to the needle. In order to absorb the vibration which would otherwise be imparted to the yoke, I provide an arm 17 especially adapted to absorb the vibration. This arm a is preferably formed at one end into a yoke 18, the forks of which are provided with pins 19 engaging with the collar 14 in the usual manner. This arm 17 is pivotally supported on a spindle 20 which is disposed in a transverse arm; The spindle may transmit its movement to the needle 1 in any suitable manner as for instance by means of a segment 22 which is rigid with the spindle and which meshes with the aforesaid pinion 5. In order to take up any back-lash and also assist in returning the needle against its stop pin 23, a spring 24 is provided in connection with the pinion.

With this construction it'will be evident that when the collar 14 moves to and fro, its movements will be transmitted tothe needle. At the same time if there are any inequalities or inaccuracies in the flanges of the collar where they engage with the pins 19,;such inaccuracieswillresult simply in producing a slight rotation of the arm on its pivotal connection or. swivel 21. In forming this pivotal connection 21, I prefer to provide the arm with a round bar or roll 25 extending longitudinally therewith and mounted on a through pin 26, one end of the pin 26 being mounted in the yoke 18 and the other end in an upturned ear 27 at the other end of the arm. The spindle 20 :asses through the roll '25 at right angles to the axis thereof and the pin .26 passes through the spindle 20. The outer portion of the roll 25 opposite the yoke 18 counterbalances the yoke. The pins 26 operate to form an axis of rotation extending longi tudinally of the arm 17 and enable the arm to rock or swivel on the spindle, to absorb lateral vibrations of the arm.

The instrument may include counting mechanism comprising a gear-wheel 28 which takes its movement from a gear 29 on a shaft 7, and this gear 28 may drive a worm 30 with which meshes a worm-wheel 21 to drive counter-wheels which appear in winspindle.

trolled -part' mounted to move to and fro as the indicated speed varies, a spindle, an arm supported to rock on said spindle, said arm having a loose connection with said spindle to absorblateral vibrations imparted to said arm by said speed-controlled part, and means for actuating said needle by said 2. In an indicating instrument, in combis nation, an indicating needle, a speed-com trolled part mounted to move to and fro as moved by said speed-controlled part and the indicated speed varies, a spindle for actuating said needle, and an arm having a swivel connection with said spindle to absorb' lateral vibrations of said arm and mounted to be moved by said speed-controlled part so as to rock'on the longitudinal axis of said spindle, and means for actuating said needle by said spindle.

3. In an'indicating instrument, in combi'-' nation, an indicating needle, a speed-controlled part mounted to move to'and fro as the indicatedspeed varies, a sp ndle for actuating said'lndicating needle, an arm extending transversel'yto said spindle, and

having a pivotal. connection with said spindlewith the axis of said pivotal connection intersecting the longitudinal axis ofsaid spindle, said arm actuated by said d. controlled part. I

V 4. In an indicatinginstrumentfln combi-V nation, an indicating-needle, a speed-controlled part mounted to move to and fro as the indicated speed varies, an arm having a supporting pivot and moved by said speedcontrolled part to rock on theaxis of said pivot, said arm havinga second pivot support with its axis intersecting the axis of said first pivot support to permit a rocking movement about thersecond pivot support to absorb lateral vibrations in said' arm, and

means for actuatingsaidindicating needle bythe movements of said arm onsaid first pivot support.

-5. In a speed indicating instrument. a

shaft, centrifugal mechanism controlled by,

the speed ofrotation of said shaft. a spindle disposed transversely to said shaft, a collar mounted to be moved to and fro on .said shaft by said centrifugal mechanism. an

arm supported by said spindle engaging said collar and mounted to be rocked on'th'e longitudinal axis of said spindle by said collar, said arm having a pivotal connection with said spindle the axis whereof extends longitudinall of the arm and permitting 'a lateral rocking movement of the arm. an indicating needle. and means for actuating said indicating needle byw saidspindle.

6. Ina speed :indicating instrument. in combination, a shaft, centrifugal mechanism controlled oy the speed of rotation of said shaft, a rotating collar mounted on said shaft, to be moved to and fro thereupon by said centrifugal mechanism, an arm having a yoke engaging said rotating collar on opposite sides of said shaft, a spindle disposed transversely to said shaft and having a pivctal connection With said arm, the axis of which extends longitudinally with said arm and transversely to the said spindle, an indicating needle, and means for actuating said needle by said spindle.

7. In a speed indicating instrument in V combination, centrifugal mechanism, a col- Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the lar adapted to be moved to and fro by said mechanism, an arm having a yoke engaging said collar, a bar pivotally mounted on said yoke, a spindle extending transversely to said arm and supporting the same, and a needle actuated by said spindle.

Signed at New York, N. Y., this 1" day of December, 1913.

'W. FLOYD KENDALL. Witnesses:

F. D. AMMEN, BEATRICE MLRVIS.

"Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

